A Big Taste of Canada

Hello all! Once again, I apologize for the length of time between posts, and will once again resolve to never let it happen again (until the next time that is....)

So what have I been up to? I haven't done any large trips recently, but have been able to get outside of Lille for some weekend excursions. I went with some friends to a castle named Chateau Pierrefonds between Paris and Lille. The place was really fairytale like, sitting on top of a ridge, turrets and all that good stuff.

The next weekend we went to Gent, a city in Belgium. It is a really gorgeous place! It sits at the crossroads of two rivers, so the city is intersected by water. It is a really old looking city with lots of really great flemish architecture. We (two Finnish exchange students and I) stayed at a B&B in the city which doubled as an art gallery. It was a really cool place, we even had the chance to attend the opening of the gallery's new exposition of African influenced art. We checked out another castle that is situated in the heart of the city, dating from the 12th century, drank some good belgian beer and generally enjoyed the great weather....

Last weekend was a really special one. It was the 90th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge (that nation-forming battle that we all learned about in school) Vimy is located not too far from Lille, so I was contacted by the Canadian consulate to help out with the ceremonies. I, being the patriotic Canadian, accepted her offer. I had an impression that this would be a big event, but was not prepared for the size of the event. There were almost 15,000 people there, more than half of whom were Canadian. (I don't think I've seen as many Canadian flags as I did that day) The queen, prime minister harper and Villepin, the prime minister of France all made speeches. I, being a volunteer, had prime seating, and was within 10 metres of the queen as she walked by to shake hands afterwards, my mom is so jealous! lol...

The monument itself and the surrounding area is really something that any Canadian visiting France must see. It really gives a perspective on the horrors of the Great War and the huge sacrifice that Canada made for it.

What was also really cool is that I had the chance to meet other Canadian students studying in Lille and elsewhere in France, so when I'm missing Canada, I can always call them up and share our nostalgia for the homeland....lol.....

Right now I am in Copenhagen visting Tanne, it has been a wonderful weekend with lots of sun and relaxation. Im back to France tommorow where I will have exams this week and then my school is pretty much finished aside from a few little projects....so early! I will be staying in Lille afterwards, continuing my teaching job for the month of may, profiting from my free time to make some trips in France and elsewhere. My mom is coming to Scotland in the middle of May, so i'll be there to see her from the 9th until the 15th. For June, I am planning a backpacking trip across eastern Europe.....big things....more details to come

Sorry for the length of this post, a function I guess of the length of time between the last one....I will try to get some pics added in the near future once I am on my own computer...

take care all and send me some emails! I need to know how things are going back home...

love you all!
Ian